Safety-plate for railroad-switches



(IVIO Model.) v

A. E. BLACK 8E R. ENGLISH. SAFETY PLATE POR RAILROAD SWITCHES.

UNITED STATES PATENT OEEICE.

ARETUSl E. BLACK AND ROBERT ENGLISH, OF MARLETTE, MICHIGAN.

SAFETY-PLATE FOR` RAI LROAD-SWITCH ES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 276,554, dated May 1, 188e.

` Application filed December 9, 188:2. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, ARE'IUs E. BLACK and ROBERT ENGLISH, citizens of the United States, residing at Marlette, in the county of Sanilac and State of Michigan, have invented a new and useful Safety-Plate for Railroad- Switches, of which the following is a specification,` reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to safety-plates for railroad-switches, and has for its object to prevent such accidents as now frequently occur by persons having their feet caught in the frogs or switch-rails, and being unable to disengage or extricate themselvesin time to avoid being maimed or killed by approaching trains.

To this'end our invention consists esseniially ot' plates fitted in or between the switchrails and frogs level with the heads of the rails, and mounted upon springs sufficiently strong to support the weight of an ordinary person, but light enough to yield easily under the pressure of the wheels of cars passing over` said plates, as will be hereinafterrnore fully described, and particularly pointed out in the claim.

Inthe drawings hereto annexed, Figure l is a plan view of a section of a railroad-track equipped with our improved safety-plates. Fig. 2 is a section on the line :vx in Fig. 1, and Fig. 3 is a section on the line yyin Fig. l.

The same letters rei'er to the saine pai ts in the several figures of the drawings.

AA in the drawings represent the main line rails, B B the guard-rails, C C the frograils, and l) D the wedge-rail ofthe frog. Between the sleepers, and under the rails herein shown are iitted boxes E E, which contain suitably-mounted springs, F F, which may either be dat or coiled, both of which constructions have been shown in the drawings; or they may be of any other suitable construction. G G represent dat plates, made preferably of steel, of any suitable dimensions in regard to thickness, and of such size and shape as to t nicely between the main rails and guard-rails., at the ends of the latter, and between the frog-rails and wedge-rail, as shown.

Said plates are provided with'downward-plo jecting brackets B2, to which are hinged rods or arms H H, extending into the boxes E, which are provided with hangers or brackets, to guide the said rods vertically. The rods H are provided near their lower ends with collars or anges I, engaging or resting upon the springs, by which the plates G are thus supported. lt is obvious that the springs are to,

be so adjusted as to support the plates G on a level with the heads ot' the rails; and they may be adjusted to yield at any desired pressure-say one hundred and fifty or two huudred pounds. The plates G are provided at their ends with hinged guard-plates J J, whio`1 hang down loosely, as shown, and rest upon the sleepers or upon the boxes E. The function of these plates is twofold-viz. first, to prevent the feet of persons from being caught under the ends of the plates G, and, second, to cause the wheels ot' passing trains to depress the plates G gradually and without any sudden shock, which might be injurious to said plates. i

The operation and advantages of our invention will be readily understood. It is simple, inexpensive, easily applied, and thoroughly effectivefor the purposes stated. 1

We claim as our invention and -desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States- The combination of the track-rails, the boxes iitted underneath the same, the guide-'brackets orhangers, thesprings contained in said boxes,

Witnesses:

D. S. MGGLUEE, GEo. MCKAY. 

